European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-10-18

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Spokesman's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Service Presse et Communicationb

Midday Express 18/10/2001

[01] Afghan crisis to be discussed at Humanitarian Aid Committee meeting
today
European Commission and Member States experts are meeting today in the
Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) to discuss latest developments in the
Afghanistan crisis. Whilst no new decisions are expected to be taken today,
the meeting provides a forum for an exchange of information and analysis on
the EU (Commission and Member States) humanitarian operational strategies
and funding. In view of the seriousness of the humanitarian situation, the
discussion will also deal with how to better support the operational
coordination needed in order to ensure the best possible response to the
humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. The General Affairs Council of 8th
October 2001 and the informal Development Council of 10th October 2001
decided that all available information on humanitarian interventions by the
European Union has to be collected as soon as possible. For 2001, the EU
has so far contributed over euro 310 million to the crisis, 100 million of
which is managed directly by the Commission.

[02] Commission refers to Bundeskartellamt review of Haniel/Fels deal in
German building materials sector, deepens probe into Dutch market
The European Commission has referred to the German Competition Authority,
the Bundeskartellamt, the examination of the impact of the proposed
acquisition by Haniel Baustoff-Industrie Zuschlagstoffe GmbH of Fels-Werke
GmbH in the German wall building materials markets. At the same time, the
Commission decided that the deal's effect in the Dutch wall building
materials sector requires further review and started an in-depth
investigation.

[04] Money laundering : Commission welcomes conciliation agreement on new
Directive
The European Commission has welcomed the approval of a compromise text on
the proposal to upgrade the EU's money laundering Directive by the European
Parliament's delegation in the conciliation procedure with the EU's Council
of Ministers. At its October 17th meeting in Brussels, the delegation voted
by 12 votes in favour of the compromise text, with one abstention. As this
compromise has already been endorsed by the Member States, the conciliation
procedure can be formally closed by an exchange of letters between the
Parliament and the Council without the need for a meeting of the
Conciliation Committee.

[05] Interreg Programme : European Union contributes euro 17.5 million for
Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
The European Commission has approved a cross-border support programme for
Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which is financed by the
Community initiative Interreg III. It covers the region "Alpenrhein-
Bodensee-Hochrhein" and a period until 2006. The programme focuses on
better cross-border cooperation in the field of spatial development,
environmental issues and coordination of activities as regards the regional
economy. The total budget available is euro 42.4 million to which the
European Union will contribute euro 17.5 million. Another euro 20.6 million
comes from national and regional budgets and euro 4.3 million from private
funding.

[06] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 35 million for
Germany (Lower Saxony) and the Netherlands (Ems-Dollart region)
The European Commission has adopted a cross-border cooperation programme
between Germany and the Netherlands, which will be financed by the
Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves parts of the
German federal state of Lower Saxony, and the Netherlands' regions of
Zuidoost Drenthe, Oost-Groningen, Delfzijl and Overig Groningen. A
population of 2.6 million inhabitants live in the supported area. The
programme's main objectives are better cross-border cooperation, the
improvement of infrastructure and the funding of social integration and
environmental protection projects. The total amount available until 2006 is
euro 87 million of which the EU finances euro 35.5 million while euro 46
million come from national and regional budgets. In addition, the private
sector contribution amounts to euro 5.6 million.

[07] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 96 million for
cross-border cooperation between Germany (Brandenburg) and Poland
(Voidvodship Lubuskie)
The European Commission today adopted one of three cross-border cooperation
programmes between Germany and Poland, which will be financed by the
Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves the German
regions of Brandenburg and the Polish border region Voivodship Lubuskie,
representing a population of about 1.62 million. Its main objectives are
the development of the economy and infrastructure on both sides of the
border and better cross-border cooperation. The total amount available
until 2006 is euro 131.79 million of which the EU finances euro 96.21
million while euro 31.71 million come from national and regional budgets
and euro 3.86 million from private financing.

[08] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 83 million for
Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommen and Brandenburg) and Poland (Voidvoship
Zachodniopomorskie)
The European Commission today adopted the last of three cross-border
cooperation programmes between Germany and Poland, which will be financed
by the Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves the German
regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg as well as the Polish
border region of the Voivodship Zachodniopomorskie, representing a
population of about 2.4 million. Its main objectives are the development of
the economy and infrastructure on both sides of the border and to support
better cross-border cooperation. The total amount available until 2006 is
euro 110.78 million of which the EU finances euro 83.09 million while euro
27.69 million come from national and regional budgets or from private
financing.

[09] Urban II programmes : Commission contributes euro 114,1 million for
urban regeneration in Germany
The European Commission has approved nine programmes for urban regeneration
in Germany. These programmes concern the regions of Dessau in Sachsen-
Anhalt (see IP/01/1446), Kassel (see IP/01/1447), Mannheim/ Ludwigshafen
(see IP/01/1448), Neubrandenburg Nordt Stadt (see IP/01/1449), Dudweiler in
Saarbrücken (see IP/01/1450), Kiel "Ostufer Stadtgebiet" (see IP/01/1451),
Lichtenberg and Friedrichshain in Berlin (see IP/01/1452), Gera (see
IP/01/1453) and Leipzig (see IP/01/1454). Priorities will include the
improvement of the environment and transport, support of the local economy
and job creation as well as projects in the field of social affairs, youth
and education.

[11] Frits Bolkestein highlights tax obstacles for companies within
Internal Market
(! embargo 4 pm !) "It is astonishing that some 8 years after establishing
the Internal Market so many tax obstacles still exist for companies", said
European Taxation Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, speaking at a conference
in Rotterdam on 18th October. These obstacles include double taxation
arising from distribution of dividends, mergers and transfer pricing and
difficulties in offsetting losses in one Member State against profits in
another. Mr Bolkestein was outlining some of the findings of a study on
company taxation that the Commission will publish shortly. The study,
carried out at the request of Member States, will report also on effective
company tax rates in Member States. Mr Bolkestein indicated that the
Commission will adopt very shortly a Company Taxation Communication that
will review possible targeted solutions to combat tax obstacles for
companies wishing to operate in more than one Member States and a range of
"comprehensive approaches" to overcome the additional obstacle of the
current costly inefficiencies of having to deal with up to 15 separate sets
of national tax rules. Mr Bolkestein indicated that the Commission plans to
work in partnership with the Member States' tax administrations to create
the necessary framework for companies to exploit all the possibilities the
Internal Market creates.

[12] Commissioner Wallström on official visit in Slovenia
The European Commissioner for Environment, Margot Wallström, is visiting
Slovenia today and tomorrow. This is Mrs Wallström's first official visit
to Slovenia, and she is also the first Environment Commissioner to visit
the country. Mrs Wallström will discuss the environmental aspects of
enlargement with Slovene politicians, environmental organisations and
university students. She will also meet with the pupils of a school in
Ljubljana that has developed an "eco-programme" for the pupils. The
programme is designed to help the children act in a more environmentally
responsible way. Mrs Wallström will be congratulating Slovenia for the
achievements made in the environmental area during the accession
negotiations, and urge her Slovenian counterparts to maintain the current
momentum. Before her departure, Mrs Wallström said : "Slovenia has come a
long way. I am very encouraged by the Slovene efforts to take on board EU
environmental legislation. Special attention must now focus on improving
the administrative capacity of the country to implement and enforce
environmental regulation."

[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Anna Diamantopoulou at the Conference of the Community action
programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006)
Speech by Günter Verheugen at the launch of EU-Turkish Foundation